The Top 5 Japanese Horror Fiction Books Well, everyone these days needs a good read. Do you agree on this? Well, you should be a bookworm too. If you are into Asian horror books that instill intense and profound fear into the mind and soul, then here are the top 5 Japanese horror fiction that you should have in your collection:
1. “Kai”, by Derek Vasconi Topping this list of Japanese horror books, this novel follows a Japanese schoolgirl in Hiroshima and a Korean orphan in the US, who seem to live parallel lives and are drawn together in a horror story of dark imaginations and interconnections, which only Vasconi can come up with. When reading this book, you will be taken to an unpredictable journey full of malevolent thoughts, sexual tensions, horrific miscarriages, searing disfigurements and other elements a horror story can have. The finale? Well, you should read it to find out.
2. “The Summer of the Ubume”, by Natsuhiko Kyogoku In Japanese folklore, an “ubume” is a ghost of a dead pregnant woman, and is the center of this Japanese horror fiction, which is the first hugely popular Kyogokudo series in Japan, so far having nine titles and four spin-offs. The story follows Akihiko "Kyogokudo" Chuzenji, the title's hero, who is an exorcist that ironically does not believe in ghosts. His first adventure includes unraveling the mystery of a woman who, in unusually 20 months, has been pregnant and finds her husband, who disappeared during the initial phase of her pregnancy—and so he does. Do not worry… you will be assured of a disturbing scene at the end.
3. “Ring”, by Koji Suzuki Most probably, you have already known of this title from its film adaptation. Well, who doesn’t? Like the film, this Japanese fiction series of events can send chills down your spine. Though the plot of the movie has many deviations from this book, it is somehow generally the same—all things happen because of one damned videotape. The success of this novel by Suzuki has also lead to manga and television adaptations in Japan, Korea, and the US.
4. “Another”, by Yukito Ayatsuji This horror novel follows Kouichi Sakakibara when he transfers to Yomiyama North Middle School in the spring of 1998. There, he develops a sense of unease, noticing the
people around him to be acting like they are walking on eggshells (yes, eggshells) that is scaring the hell out of teachers and students alike. A series of horrific deaths then started to happen, and Sakakibara discovers that he has been placed in a class which is rumored to be cursed, as it always has a head count with one more than it is supposed to be. Well, the additional number is a vengeful spirit who is responsible for the deaths. Now, Sakakibara decides to get to the bottom of the curse, but is he ready to face the horror that lies ahead? Find out for yourself!
5. “ZOO”, by Otsuichi and Terry Gallagher In this book’s eponymous story, you will know a man who keeps seeing the corpse of his girlfriend decompose—one Polaroid snapshot at a time! An interesting plot of a horror story this is, which you should not miss. There you have it, the top 5 Japanese horror stories you should add to your collection! For more about horror fiction books, keep visiting our website.